Laguna poised to fine adults who serve teens alcohol

Nov. 12, 2012

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Laguna Beach Chief of Police Paul Workman talks with residents during a community meeting on the proposed social host ordinance Wednesday night. The law that would allow law enforcement to fine adults who allow underage drinking in their homes. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Laguna Beach Chief of Police Paul Workman listens to residents during a community meeting on the proposed social host ordinance -- a law that would fine adults who allow underage drinking in their homes. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Tijana Hamilton patiently waits to ask a question during a Laguna Beach community meeting on the proposed social host ordinance -- a law that would fine adults who allow underage drinking in their homes. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Laguna Beach residents talk over the proposed social host ordinance -- a law that would fine adults who allow underage drinking in their homes -- during a community meeting Wednesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Laguna Beach City Council member Verna Rollinger, left, listens to residents voice concerns over the proposed social host ordinance -- a law that would fine adults who allow underage drinking in their homes -- during a community meeting Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Laguna Beach Police Lt. Jason Kravetz speaks to residents during a community meeting Tuesday night on the proposed social host ordinance. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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Laguna Beach Chief of Police Paul Workman talks with residents during a community meeting on the proposed social host ordinance Tuesday night. KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Laguna Beach Chief of Police Paul Workman talks with residents during a community meeting on the proposed social host ordinance Wednesday night. The law that would allow law enforcement to fine adults who allow underage drinking in their homes.KEVIN SULLIVAN, THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

LAGUNA BEACH – A local law that aims to cut down on teens drinking at parties is raising questions on how Laguna Beach should address its longstanding problem of underage drinking.

Officials in November will vote on adopting a social host ordinance, which would impose a fine on adults who serve alcohol in their homes to minors. At a recent gathering, residents had a chance to weigh in and ask questions at a community meeting with the Chief of Police.

Laguna Beach would be the fourth Orange County city to adopt a social host ordinance, and local police say it would offer law enforcement another tool in dealing with the issue. Some teens and parents, however, are raising concerns about the ordinance's scope and potential consequences.

Other cities passed their version of the law in response to out-of-control parties. In Mission Viejo, neighbors complained for months before police were able to arrest four college students who had turned their house into a haven for underage parties on suspicion of disturbing the peace. Those raucous gatherings and others around the city inspired officials to pass a law targeting parties in 2008. At the time, Mayor Trish Kelley said the issue presented a health and safety concern for teens and the community at large.

Laguna Hills followed suit later that year after a 21-year-old woman was beaten with a baseball bat by attackers her parents said were teens partying at a nearby home. At a 2008 city meeting, Councilwoman Melody Carruth said the ordinance aimed to send a clear message that underage drinking would not be tolerated.

Laguna Beach's rates of underage drinking are higher than state and county averages, according to the California Healthy Kids Survey. The measure developed for the state Department of Education found that half of Laguna Beach High School juniors have drank alcohol in the last 30 days, and local leaders say the consequences are real. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, about 5,000 deaths of people under 21 are related to alcohol each year.

Though contributing to the delinquency of a minor is already illegal according to state law, Laguna Beach Police Chief Paul Workman said that enforcement isn't always easy. Workman posted a draft of the potential ordinance and answers to frequently asked questions on the city website. The language of the criminal misdemeanor is vague, he said, and other state laws focus on selling alcohol to minors or possessing it in a public place. A new ordinance would specifically deal with adults serving alcohol to youth at parties, and violators would be fined.

Laguna Beach officials will have a chance to amend the law to fit the needs of their community. Items still up for discussion include whether the law would apply to drinkers 21 and under, or only teens. Also on the table is whether a minor may be considered a host and whether drugs should be included as well as alcohol. Fines may start at $500 for a first offense or a class.

Laguna Beach High School graduate Adam Redding-Kaufman doesn't advocate underage drinking, but he said he's worried about the potential consequences of a social host ordinance. The 18-year-old, who now attends Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, spoke out with other Laguna Beach teens when the city first considered the social host ordinance. Another law isn't going to stop teen parties, he said.

"It's an issue where you have to accept that it happens," he said.

He'd like to see instead providing teens with alternative activities and promoting groups like South County Safe Rides, which offers free, confidential rides home to teens. A new law targeting house parties could underage drinking to more dangerous places, he said, the penalties might dissuade people from calling 911 when a teen at party needs medical attention.

The law also raises philosophical questions for him. Teens should be responsible for their actions, he said, not adults.

"It's an issue of choice," he said. "I don't think you should be penalized for a bad choice in your house."

To members of the Laguna Beach Community Coalition, which first advocated for a social host ordinance, the law is only one step in combating underage drinking. Over the last two years, the group – which includes representatives from the Laguna Beach Community Clinic, Mission Hospital, Mothers Against Drunk Driving and more – has reviewed research and created a three-prong strategy to make a difference.

"The social host ordinance is not a magic bullet," said Pam Estes, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Laguna Beach. "It's one of many things being done to address the issue."

Since young drinkers face more long-term ill effects, the group is looking at reducing alcohol use among ninth graders at Laguna Beach High School. Ten actions, including establishing a social host ordinance, are underway to increase teen's problem solving skills and caring relationships at home in addition to reducing access to alcohol. The social host ordinance should reduce access to alcohol – most teens who drink report they do so at a home – and it will send a message that the community takes the issue seriously, she said.

"Bottom line, it's about culture," she said.

At Laguna Beach High School, teachers are working on building students' skills to resist the temptation of drinking as well as educating them on the negative effects of alcohol, Laguna Beach Unified School District Superintendent Sherine Smith said. The district is also working with parents on their role in talking to kids openly about the issue.

"Parents are the most influential people in students' lives, in children's lives," she said.

The social host ordinance is one step the city can take to make an impact on the issues, she added.

"We all need to come at this from different angles to reduce and prevent students' use of alcohol."

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